The Fireman's Ready-Made Family

by Jules Bennett

  While he didn’t have any thoughts of marrying Marly, he couldn’t deny the strong pull, the intensity of his feelings and the anticipation of seeing where their relationship led them.

  He may have not planned for another woman to impact his life, but he couldn’t deny that Marly had sucker punched him in the gut with her beauty, her innocence and her vulnerability. No way in hell was he letting go of something that was building just because he was scared of taking another step into relationship territory.

  Marly may just be the woman who had been placed into his life to help him get over that last hurdle he’d been afraid to face. Maybe this was the start of something he’d dreamed of, everything he’d wanted and never thought he’d have after Andrea.

  Chapter Nine

  At first Marly had wondered what on earth she’d been thinking agreeing to this, but after she and Willow had arrived at Eli’s home, she realized it was a good idea.

  After kissing Drake, wanting more and then pushing him away, the presence of other adults really lessened the awkwardness between them. Well, Drake may not feel awkward, but she sure did. Not a bad awkward, just...awkward. She didn’t know what move to make or what he’d do next.

  Being attracted to someone, knowing he felt the same way, was all new territory for her. Yes, when she and Kevin had first started dating and then gotten engaged, they had a level of attraction; she wouldn’t have married him had there been no spark.

  But the intensity with which Marly yearned for more time, more kissing from Drake was beyond anything she’d ever experienced.

  And now she had another layer of Drake St. John to consider. The man may be all strength and power, but he had a vulnerability that he held close to his heart. Losing a fiancée was unfathomable, and the fact Drake had been able to move on, pushing through what had to have broken him, only made her more aware of what a remarkable man he truly was.

  “Sorry about that.” Eli’s wife, Nora, came back out onto the enclosed patio with a monitor in hand. “Had to get Amber down for her afternoon nap.”

  Marly smiled. “I understand. Too bad adults can’t grab those afternoon naps.”

  Nora laughed, taking a seat on the floral-cushioned wicker chair. “So you’re fairly new in town. What do you think of Stonerock?”

  “I really like it,” Marly answered honestly. “I wanted a small town and I wanted a nice school for Willow. We’re both really happy.”

  That sounded convincing...didn’t it?

  “Where are you from?”

  Marly slid her thumb over the condensation on her cup of lemonade, trying to figure out how much to reveal and still sound like a normal single mom just looking for a fresh start.

  “Nashville.”

  “Oh, I love Nashville.” Nora rested her elbow on the edge of her wicker chair and propped her head on her fist. “Were you a nurse there, as well?”

  “For a few years. After I had Willow, I took time off to stay home and be with her.”

  Mainly because Kevin had threatened to have her fired if she didn’t because he didn’t want his wife working. That would look as if he couldn’t take care of her financially, and image was everything after all.

  “I’m so glad I’m taking a few months off to be with Amber,” Nora stated. “Eli doesn’t care if I return to work or not, but I love my clinic. Not that it matters. If I closed my office, my patients would just come here.”

  “You’d mentioned earlier being a vet. Do you love that?”

  Nora nodded. “Every day is something different.”

  Marly took a drink of her lemonade, the tangy liquid reminding her of simple summers, and she was sorry that this one would be coming to an end soon.

  “How long have you been divorced?”

  Marly nearly choked on her drink at Nora’s innocent question.

  “I’m sorry,” Nora said over Marly’s coughing. “That was rude. I just assumed you’d been married and I shouldn’t have done that. I was married before, but my husband was killed in the service. I hate when people assume.”

  Nora’s backpedaling and apology gave Marly enough time to compose herself. “No, no. It’s okay. I am divorced. I’ve been single about six months.”

  Longer than that, considering the loveless marriage. She’d raised Willow totally on her own, but there was no way Marly was getting into that.

  “Well, you have one adorable little girl,” Nora stated. “She really does love football, doesn’t she?”

  Marly nodded. “She does. Most people think she’s this sweet, princess-type little girl with her blond hair and blue eyes. She really fools them when they realize she’s a dirt-and-mud type of girl who loves sports and trucks.”

  “I love that you allow her to be her own person.” Nora stroked the cat that had climbed up onto her lap. “So many parents try to mold their children into something they’re just not meant to be.”

  Images of Kevin yelling about Willow’s free spirit and blaming Marly played in her head. It was during one of those fights that he’d put that scar on her chin.

  “Are you okay?”

  Marly glanced across the patio to meet Nora’s worried face. “Oh, yes. Just thinking. It is a shame when parents don’t let their kids develop in their own way.”

  Shouting from the living room erupted, and seconds later the baby monitor lit up as the cries from Amber came through.

  Nora groaned. “I’ve told him again and again he needs to tone it down during the games. He wakes Amber up every time there’s an afternoon game.”

  Marly came to her feet. “Would you like me to go get her?”

  “Oh, no. I’ll go get her and take her to her daddy. He needs to be reminded what happens when you wake the baby,” Nora smirked. “Be right back.”

  Marly sank back down on the wicker sofa and sighed. This was what a family should be like. Give and take, good times with friends in a simple, loving atmosphere.

  Before her parents had passed, she’d had that. Perhaps that was why she’d been so quick to marry Kevin. Marly had dreamed of raising her own family, mimicking the love and laughter she’d always known. Yet somehow she’d been blinded by a charming man with a dream for power who’d wanted her by his side. In theory it had all sounded so romantic... In reality it was a living hell.

  One day at a time, she was crawling back to the life she’d envisioned for herself. And one day, perhaps she’d find her own happiness.

  * * *

  Drake stepped out onto the patio where Marly was obviously lost in thought. She stared straight ahead into the fenced backyard. Her legs were crossed and she absently toyed with her empty cup, spinning it slowly between her hands.

  “Care if I hide here with you?” he asked, coming to sit beside her on the small sofa.

  Her gaze jerked to his. “I didn’t hear you come out. Um...sure.”

  “We woke the baby, so now Eli is being punished.”

  Marly straightened. “He’s the baby’s father, too. Is it just the mother’s job to take care of the child?”

  Drake held up his hands. “Whoa, I didn’t mean that. I just meant because he woke Amber he would have to get her back to sleep.”

  Marly eased back against the floral cushion. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to jump all over you.”

  “Never apologize to me,” he told her. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  Her reaction told him everything he needed to know about the type of man Willow’s father was. Deadbeat dad came to mind instantly.

  “Aren’t you watching the game?” she asked.

  “It’s halftime. Eli brought in Amber, and Willow was all excited about the baby, so she wanted to stay with them.”

  “Is she in the way?” Marly asked, her eyes wide. “We can go. I don’t want to overstay our welcome.”

  Drake reached out, placing a hand on her knee. “You’re not overstaying, and Willow is never in the way.”

  Marly’s eyes held his for a second before she nodded. “Thanks.”

/>   He figured the kiss was still on her mind, which was right where he wanted it to stay, so he didn’t bring it up. He wanted her to think about it, think about them. He sure as hell was.

  So instead of bringing up the proverbial elephant in the room, he kept to a safer topic. As much as he wanted to dig deeper into her feelings, he also wanted to keep that line of friendship open.

  “I have several items for the silent auction,” he told her, pleased when she smiled. “I also rented a dunking booth, and the company was all too eager to let us rent it for half price.”

  “Oh, Drake, that’s great.” She shifted in her seat to face him fully. “I emailed the art teacher, and she was happy to have her high school class set up a face-painting station. A church in town actually contacted me about a bake sale.”

  “I’m picking up the flyers on Monday, and I’ll bring some by your house when my shift ends. I think most people know by now, but it won’t hurt to post some around town.”

  Marly tucked her hair behind her ear and reached to smooth her bangs. He had no doubt she did the gesture out of habit now. Every time he saw her trying to hide that scar, a new level of rage rolled through him. It absolutely sickened him to think of everything she’d endured...everything she still kept bottled inside.

  “I’m excited,” she told him. “I just know this will really help Shawn and Amy.”

  Unable to resist, Drake slid his arm across the back of the wicker love seat and toyed with the ends of her silky hair. “And what about you? What would help you?”

  Marly tilted her head. “Drake, you’ve got to stop. You make this so hard for me.”

  “This what?” he asked, rubbing those golden strands between his fingertips.

  A sigh shuddered through her as her eyes met his. “You make me feel things,” she whispered. “I can’t let this go beyond friendship.”

  “But you want to.” He grazed the back of his knuckles down her delicate cheek. “I’m not trying to make this harder on you, Marly, but you have to know that it’s been so long since I’ve felt anything for a woman. I can’t ignore this.”

  Marly reached up and held on to his hand. “How long has Andrea been gone?”

  Drake froze. Hearing his late fiancée’s name on Marly’s lips had his past and present colliding right in front of him.

  “It’s a small town,” he told her, bringing their hands to drop into her lap. “I’m surprised you didn’t hear about this before now.”

  Marly offered a smile. “We both have our own issues, Drake. I realize you’re moving past yours, but my issues... They could destroy peoples’ lives.”

  The reality of her words settled in and he shifted closer. “Are you trying to protect me?”

  “You don’t know what you’d be up against. Trust me.”

  The haunted look in her eyes, the sad tone of her voice had his blood boiling all over again. He’d climb these damn walls she’d erected and prove to her that real men didn’t use their power to control women.

  “Marly, I’m not afraid of anybody or anything.” She started to look down, but he took both hands, cupped her face and forced her to look at him. “I don’t know what kind of man you’re used to, but I’m not a coward, and I stand up for people I care about.”

  Unshed tears sprang to her eyes. “He has the power to crush your career and take my daughter,” she whispered. “Please, don’t do this to me, to yourself.”

  Drake ignored her plea and closed the narrow space between them. Her mouth instantly opened to his, proving she wasn’t speaking from her heart. Her heart was in this kiss, this moment. She’d become like a drug to him. The more he had, the more he craved. His hands slid into her hair, but she pulled away and came to her feet, turning her back on him.

  “I won’t do this to you,” she whispered. “Don’t ask me to.”

  And then she was gone. Drake sat on the sofa, wondering what the hell he could do to make her understand that he wasn’t going anywhere, that he wanted to help her.

  Beyond that, beyond the fact that he wanted to protect her, he had a feeling deep in his soul that Marly was a woman he could quite possibly fall in love with.

  Was he ready to step into that type of commitment again? Could he open his heart fully and trust it not to be broken?

  Chapter Ten

  Two days later and Drake couldn’t get Marly’s haunting words from his mind. She was utterly convinced that if she started something with him, her ex would take action. He knew Marly was worried not only for herself, but also for Willow. Didn’t she see that he wouldn’t let anyone hurt them? Regardless of what happened between Drake and Marly, he refused to see any woman treated poorly, especially by someone who claimed to care for her. Drake refused to back down, and he refused to let Marly throw in the towel and give up on a life for herself.

  If she’d said she wasn’t interested, if she hadn’t responded so passionately to his kisses, then he would back off. But Marly was just as interested as he was, and he would damn well find a way to get over this hurdle she’d placed between them.

  Drake climbed the steps to the courthouse and welcomed the cool air-conditioning as he stepped into the marble, two-story entryway.

  As if his mood wasn’t crappy enough because of Marly’s ex—a man he’d never even met—now Drake had to go meet with Mayor Butterball for a performance review. These were always a treat.

  Bypassing the elevator, Drake took the steps and headed toward the mayor’s office. Betty typed away at her computer, but looked up and offered a sweet smile when Drake entered.

  How such a kind older woman could work for a man like Mayor Tipton was beyond him. The pay couldn’t be good enough to put up with the lazy jerk.

  “Chief,” she greeted. “Go right on in. He’s expecting you.”

  Goody.

  “Thank you, Betty,” he replied with a smile of his own.

  Without knocking, Drake charged right in and closed the door behind him.

  “Chief. Right on time.”

  Drake grunted as he took a seat in the worn leather chair. No extra words were necessary. Drake wasn’t here to make friends, he was here to get this yearly review over with so he could head home and work more on his renovations. His ultimate stress reliever was pounding on two-by-fours and getting dirty and sweaty while blaring his music.

  The mayor slid a folder across his desk and flipped it open. He pretended to be reading through the papers, but Drake knew full well the man had already looked over this stuff. He made it a point to be in Drake’s business...and not just because he was the mayor and that was his job.

  “Looks as though there was a problem at the Shack,” he said without looking up.

  Drake sighed. He knew this was coming. “This is the third time that restaurant has had an electrical issue. If they can’t keep their box up to code, they can’t stay open.”

  Tipton dropped the paper and glanced up. “That’s the only place that the church crowd goes on Sundays. You can’t keep closing them and fining them.”

  Drake eased forward in his chair. “Are you kidding me? Do you want a fire? Because I assure you, that will close them a hell of a lot longer.”

  “The Prestons are an older couple, Chief. They can’t afford to lose the business.”

  “They can’t afford to have their business burn to the ground, either.” Drake’s blood started pumping, as it always did around this moron. “I will continue to inspect them until I’m comfortable with their security.”

  Sighing, Mayor Tipton flipped the top paper over. “I also have a complaint from Helen Reed about one of your engines leaving a rut in her yard.”

  Drake laughed, shaking his head. “Seriously? She calls at least once a week because that damn cat of hers won’t come out of the tree.”

  So embarrassing. He hated the stereotypical image of a fireman getting the cat out of a tree, but the woman was nearing ninety and there was no way Drake could tell her no...even if she did complain.

  “Be that as i
t may, you need to be more careful.”

  Drake clenched his fists, but said nothing. This “review” couldn’t be over fast enough.

  “I’ve also gone over the budget again for the next quarter, and I’m afraid we’ll have to cut back one more man in your department.”

  Oh, hell no. Drake shot out of his chair.

  “You’ve already pulled three,” he retorted. “We’re short staffed as it is. This is getting ridiculous.”

  “If the money isn’t there, then there’s nothing I can do.”

  Drake braced his hands on the desk and leaned in. “You could start cutting some of the hours of other city workers. You could start knocking off an hour from each employee in this building, and that would pay for one of my hardworking men to keep his job.”

  “I can’t affect the lives of that many people,” the Mayor defended. “It’s easier to just remove one.”

  “Easier?” Drake laughed in disbelief. “You’re all about easier. You sit behind this desk and dole out orders when you know absolutely nothing about what’s going on in the town you supposedly care so much about.”

  “Watch it, Chief. You’re treading a fine line.”

  Drake pushed off the desk, propped his hands on his hips and stared down at the man who had become the bane of his existence.

  “I don’t care about that line, Mayor, I care about the people who I took an oath to protect. I care about the men who work under me, who put their lives on the line every single day with little or no recognition.” Drake’s anger fueled his words and he couldn’t stop. “What I don’t care about is a lazy man who tries to play God and is more worried about image than people. And I sure as hell don’t care about making your job easier. I will not sacrifice another of my men.”

  “Fine.” The mayor pushed from his desk and came to his feet. “Consider yourself suspended without pay until further notice.”

  Stunned, Drake sank back on his heels. “You’re not serious.”

  The smirk across Mayor Tipton’s face had Drake resisting the urge to jump over that desk. The last thing he wanted was for his own brother to have to come arrest him.